Ceramic 101

In September, I started ceramic classes at Tanjong Pagar Community Centra after a friend recommended that she did classes there and enjoyed it. So that was when my journey started and I signed up for a 3 months course. I have a good teacher, a very patient and quiet man who remains calm all the time as he patches up the damage we do to our pieces.

Since it's a beginners' class, I learnt the coiling method. I have tried the electric wheel once before and that's like tuff with clay flying all over the place. I ended up having more clay on me than on the wheel. With this method, it's easier cuz I use a wheel that I spin manually.

For the first lesson, my coursemates and I made a dish from using them coils. Sounds easy but the tough part was getting all the coils to be of the same thickness. Then had to get use to spinning the wheel which takes some strength. But the end product looks nice and is one of my favourite pieces so far.

This one broke my heart some. Thanks to my clumsiness, while sandpapering the container before glazing, I was a little rough and broke a ceramic flower that I had attached to this container. Also had problems when glazing the container :o(

From the piece below, I learnt alot more about spinning the wheel, keeping my hand supported and firm when shaping the clay. I have a horrible tendency to get stressed out cuz a voice in me keeps reminding me that I have to get it right. But thankfully, I have a good teacher who patiently explains and shows me what I need to do and I watch how relax he is when he works the pieces. So am reminding myself now to relax instead and enjoy the whole process and it's okay to have bad pieces :o)

The sake bottle and cup wasn't what I had in mind. The bottle turned out a little too tall and too skinny for my liking. But it's done so just need to get some sake to test it out! Anyone game?

The bowl below is another favourite piece of mine. I am alot more relax (after self reminders for the first ten minutes of class) and I have better control over what I make than before.

This next piece below is not made by me but by Slawek who attends class with me and it's now mine :o) He did this free form and I think it turns out pretty cool!

Truly Scrumptuous ....

If you're from my generation, you would probably have watched the film version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang with Dick Van Dyke whilst you were growing up! Yes, giving away my age but never mind....

This weekend, I had a great time watching the musical version of Chitty Chitty Bang Bang at the Esplanade Theatre and really enjoyed myself. If you think it's meant for children only, you are so wrong. I was intrigued from the moment the curtains opened and was humming away to the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang song and even when the curtains closed at the end of the musical, I was STILL trying to figure out how they managed to get the car 'flying'. And there were lots of laughing throughout the musical and moments where I wondered if the lil white doggie was suppose to run across the stage or was it a mistake *grins* Not telling any more so if you would like to catch the musical, it's showing at the Esplanade till 9 December.

A little bit more about Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, it is based on the book by Ian Fleming. Chitty Chitty Bang Bang was originally a movie from 1967. The musical is complete with the eccentric inventor Caractacus Potts, his two children Jeremy and Jemima, Grandpa Potts, and Truly Scrumptious. Not forgetting the world famous fine four-fendered friend, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, the car that rides, floats, and flies to fantastic places, taking its passengers on wonderful journeys and adventures.

Checked Wiki and found this interesting information:

"Chitty Chitty Bang Bang's number plate number was GEN 11, apparently the closest to the word "genie" the UK motor vehicle registry would allow. However, by the time the film was made (1968), this UK Number Plate would have been available - as GEN 1E - as early as August 1967, when the 'E registration appeared - well before the film's launch, in December 1968. These are, incidentally, Bury (Lancashire) official registrations (both the original GEN 11, and the potential GEN 1E)."